My Doll Haven

Everyone Needs Playtime

In our hectic, modern lives, many of us focus so heavily on work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for pure fun. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing.

When we carve out some leisure time, we’re more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than engage in fun, rejuvenating play like we did as children. But play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well.

There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life.

Saturday

A Little Knitting Pattern

This week has been full of ups and downs, mainly due to the worst bout of hayfever I've ever had. Not even my antihistamines have kept the sneezing, runny nose and eyes at bay.

Aside from that, I've been looking for items to add to the kids bedroom, which led me to making throws for the bunk beds. It's a simple pattern which I made up myself as I wanted a loose lacy look which works well for this scale.

Using 5.5mm needles and 3ply yarn, cast on 32 stitches. Finished size 30 x 32cm.

1st row: knit 1, *purl 1, yarn over needle, slip 1, knit 1 and pass the slip stitch over, repeat from * until the last stitch, then knit 1.

2nd row: as above.

Continue until you have the length you require then cast off and sew in the ends.

I then blocked my knitted piece to open up the lacy pattern, by simply pinning it to my ironing board, setting my iron to steam, covering the throw with a tea towel and steam ironing it flat. You can read how to properly block your knitting here.

They are not perfect works of art by any means, but I didn't think they looked too bad on the bunks. Holly had other ideas.

Primrose was very happy with hers, Magnolia insisted I make hers in pink and Holly couldn't resist telling me "They need a fringe at each end." So it appears I have more knitting to do.

Until next time, have a wonderful weekend everyone!

UPDATE: Here's the finished ones.

Not Quite Finished

But I'm getting there. I finished making a bunting for the bedroom in the kiddies cottage this afternoon and wanted to see how it looked, so I took a quick shot with my phone.

The little table is made from a metal pot plant stand with a painted MDF top which hubby cut to size for me. The top is removable and I have another top which I can add when I use the table in Heather's art deco apartment.

The doll house is from AliExpress; the front opens and so does the roof.

Wednesday

Heather's Credenza

Just completed this little credenza for Heather's apartment. She asked that I make it match her other furniture, which I did. Once it was finished she sat back and admired it while sipping her afternoon tea.

If you are interested to see how I made it, pop on over to Studio1283.

Now she's asking for a dining table and chairs . . . no rest for the wicked!